Before The Harvest

"Before the Harvest " I know you will enjoy this story of three generations of farmers During the outbreak of WW2. Janice Villeverde and her friend Miriam Nixon are sent to Wildacre Farm in the New York Estate. it is there that they are put to work along with many others to help the war effort. it is there that they meet up with young Thomas Hogg who introduces the girls to his friend George Barrett. After a brief courtship Janice finds herself in trouble and George Barrett sends her away when she tells him. Forced to bring up a child on her own Janice swears revenge on the man who wronged her. Before the Harvest gives you an insight of how a farm worked during the war years; a story of love hate and revenge.

11. 11

“Thomas your dinner is out shouted his mother as William looked down at the spam and potato pie and sighed.

Thomas came in to the kitchen from his bedroom and sat at the table whilst his mother served him some pie with carrots, a boiled onion, some Swede turnip, with bisto gravy.

They were half way into their meal when the air raid warning sounded.

Bloody Gerry’s, said his father angrily can we not even have our dinner in peace.

“William we will have less of that language in this house please. Now come on let’s get to the shelter.’

Thomas covered all the food up in case any dust fell on the plates.

They made their way to the shelter that had been built on the field nearby.

There land army girls marched towards it led by two A.R.P’s They sat together as best they could as the Germans bombed the ship yards down in North Shields. The Germans tried to cripple the ship repair yards so that no ships could be built or repaired along the Tyne. Some of the younger girls started crying until Thomas pulled out his Honner Harmonica and began to play.

Everyone joined in with Roll out the Barrel” as Thomas played and it seemed to ease the tension inside the shelter. Then everyone listened as Thomas played a Vera Lynn song When the light’s go on around the world.

Jackie Bell, a well known singer in the Dun Cow and A.R.P man sang along.

When the lights go on again, all over the world

And the boys are home again all over the world

And the rain and snow will be the only thing that falls from the sky

A kiss will not mean goodbye, but hello to love

When the light’s go on again all over the world

And the ships will sail again, all over the world

Then we’ll have time for things like wedding rings

And free hearts will sing

When the lights go on again all over the world

When the second chorus came everyone joined in and then the air raid warning stopped and the all clear was given. They still brought their gas masks with them in case of a gas attack by the Germans but there was no need to wear them.